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May 28, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 

Catalans ponder independence

12 April 2011 / AP, BARCELONA
Barcelona dwellers gave a lukewarm thumbs-up to the idea of full autonomy from Spain in an informal, nonbinding referendum organized by pro-independence activists.

Just over 91 percent said yes to the idea of full independence, however the turnout was a modest 21.4 percent in Spain’s second largest city, which is also the capital of Catalonia. Foreign residents and 16-year-olds were allowed to vote, following in the footsteps of other regional cities, towns and villages that had previously held similar informal ballots. Warm, sunny weather drew many people onto the streets of this thriving Mediterranean port city, but most seemed more interested in strolling and watching typical Catalan activities -- like Sardana folk dances or the building of 10-man tall human towers -- than in voting. Still, organizers were upbeat about the result. ”We increased the response level, we didn’t expect this result,” said spokeswoman Elisenda Paluzie. Previous informal referendums in the region had achieved a 20 percent turnout.

 
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